CHP seeks witnesses to deadly head-on collision

FRESNO, Calif. — Investigators are asking for the public’s help to determine what led up to a head-on crash that killed seven children and two adults on New Year’s Day.

The California Highway Patrol says everyone who reported Friday’s fiery crash on rural state

Route 33 came upon the scene after the collision. The CHP wants to talk to witnesses who saw what happened when the SUV and the truck collided between Avenal and Coalinga.

The children, who were between 6 and 15 years old, were members of two related families traveling in a Ford F-150 pickup that was struck by a Dodge Journey SUV around 8 p.m., the Fresno County coroner’s office and the CHP said.

Evidence indicates that the Dodge, driven by a 28-year-old man was traveling southbound when it veered onto the dirt shoulder, the CHP said.

The driver then swerved into the southbound lane, where the Dodge struck the Ford driven by a woman, officials said.

The Ford burst into flames on the dirt shoulder, while the Dodge came to a stop straddling both lanes of the highway, the CHP said.

“When the fire was extinguished, tragically it was discovered there were eight occupants — seven of which appeared to be juveniles — inside the Ford,” CHP Capt. Kevin Clays said.

The driver of the Dodge, the SUV’S only occupant, was identified as Daniel Luna of Avenal.

It was unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor, pending toxicology results.

Weather or other road conditions did not appear to be a factor, officials said.